Did you know that there are around 53 million Americans caring for a family member, friend, or neighbor and out of those nearly ⅓ are caring for someone with a mental illness. Being a caregiver puts additional strain on work and social interactions. It also puts the caregiver at a greater risk for physical fatigue, compassion fatigue and sicknesses. If you are a caregiver make sure you are taking time to care for yourself! Here are a few things to help.

  • Ask for help! It’s hard being a caregiver and whether you need an emotional break or help with physical tasks or logistics, have someone or a small group of people you can vent to, ask for help, or strategize.
  • Remind yourself that the person you are caring for is struggling as well. It’s easy to become angry at the one you’re caring for if you have entered into compassion fatigue. Remember why you began caring for them in the first place. They are in need of help.
  • Remind yourself that you cannot fix everything. You are not the person’s savior!
  • Find rest for yourself! The reason care-giving leads to burn out is because it is HARD work in every way, emotional, mental, physical it encompasses our whole being. You need to find time to allow yourself to rest and be replenished.
    • Sit outside and sip a cup of tea or coffee.
    • Minimize distractions!
      • Turn your phone off for a few minutes.
      • Find time to be alone in a quiet place.
      • Take a nap
      • Write! Write down your thoughts, emotions, what you want out of life…. Etc.
      • Read. Reading in itself is a wonderful thing. It can take you to a different world. But, if you are looking for books on suffering and helping others there are a ton of resources to look into.

– Head over to the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ Website https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Family-Members-and-Caregivers and check out information and resources to provide education and support for mental illness and care-giving.

Considering Tele-therapy?

Christian Mom Counseling provides professional counseling via virtual teletherapy for women located in the state of North Carolina. We utilize real-time video to have sessions with women all over the state of NC. There are multiple reasons why and here are a few:

  1. As a mom of three, I understand the difficulty of scheduling and making time for myself. I’ve found that many other mothers who are in the early childhood stage of motherhood find scheduling online sessions easier and more feasible. Save time on travel and sitters and schedule online.
  2. You can attend your session even if you are sick without the risk of exposing anyone else!
  3. It’s a good option if you live in a remote area that makes finding a counselor close to you difficult.
  4. My primary specialty is faith-based Christian Counseling. That being said, many of my clients have commented on their inability to find counselors who claim to be Christian and include faith as a major part of the client’s healing and recovery.
  5. Virtual Counseling is here to stay and studies have shown that in many cases tele-therapy can be equally as effective. You will always hear me recommend in person interpersonal connections (family, friends, church, small groups, and other forms of deep relationships with others) but online counseling can provide many of the same advantages of in-person counseling.

If you’ve been wondering if tele-therapy would be a good fit I’d love to hear from you! Click the button below to form to schedule a free phone consultation: